Davidson College is an educational paradox. Trying to fan the flames of a 116-year-old liberal tradition, the college at the same time demands an almost rigid conformity from each of its 800 students.

An atmosphere of sameness permeates virtually every aspect of student life. It ranges from compulsory attendance at daily chapel, four years of physical training for all, and required R.O.T.C., to a fraternity system where every house contains an identical amount of floor space.

Founded in 1837 by sturdy Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, the school dominates the tiny town of Davidson, in the Pledmont region of North Carolina. The small men's college operates under the belief that its primary aim should be the all-round development of each of its students. For this reason, equal emphasis is placed on the religious, the physical, and the social facets of education, in addition to academic growth.

Presbyterian School

Fundamental to the Davidson concept of general education is the school's connection with the Presbyterian Church. Although the founders of the college proposed "To educate youth of all classes without any regard to the distinction of religious denominations, and thereby to promote the more general diffusion of knowledge and virtue," the student body of Davidson today is half Presbyterian, and religious education plays a major part in the Davidson scheme of things.

All students must attend daily chapel services and a vesper service on Sundays. Courses of Biblical Study are required through the first two years of the school.

Unique Fraternity System

Social education at Davidson is provided through a unique system of fraternity system is an extreme emphasis ternity spirit generated by the closely-knit nature of the college community.

The most distinctive feature of the fraternity system is an extreme emphasis on the part of college officials to make certain that all of the fraternities are, at least on the surface, exactly alike. For this purpose the college constructed Fraternity Court in 1928, consisting of all 11 houses arranged in a small group on the southeast corner of the campus.

Every house was built to look exactly like the others. They are designed in the same architectural style and contain exactly the same floor space, down to the square foot. Each contains a large lounge, a meeting room, a kitchenette, and a lavatory, but no living or dining facilities.

Although the college forces the 70% of the student body who belong to the fraternities to live with their Independent brothers, it permits them to eat apart. Each fraternity has a "boarding house" in town where members eat, an arrangement roughly similar to Princeton's eating clubs.

A twelfth group, the Campus Club, is open to all those who do not join fraternities.

Like their country cousins at Dartmouth, Davidson men must rely on an abundance of spirit to tide them over the womanless days before each weekend. But unlike Dartmouth, Davidson generates its spirit from within, without any aid from Demon Rum, for the college rules state that "any student found guilty of drinking alcoholic liquors, having them in his possession, or being under their influence on the campus, is dismissed."

Cars for Seniors Only

The nearest women's college is Queens-Chicora, located in Charlotte, an hour's drive from Davidson. But this short distance could just as well be hundreds of miles, for only seniors are allowed to possess cars on campus.